2. Kansas City Chiefs

Drew Brees aggressively purchased multi-million dollar pieces of jewelry.

A San Diego-based jeweler is crying foul over a lawsuit filed Monday by Drew Brees, claiming the Saints quarterback should be pointing the finger at himself for shelling out millions on jewelry over the years.

Brees, 39, claims Vahid Moradi of Southern California’s CJ Charles jewelry shop duped him out of millions, after discovering his collection of earrings, rings and watches is worth far less than what he originally paid, according to TMZ. Brees reportedly is seeking $9 million in damages.

But following a recent independent appraisal, Moradi’s lawyer, Eric M. George, said Brees’ aggressive spending is not his client’s problem.

“Years later, claiming to suffer ‘cash flow problems,’ he tried to bully my client into undoing the transactions,” George said.

“The biggest thing I enjoy is being around bigger guys, like last year with Matt Holliday or with A-Rod,’’ Judge said. “Those are bigger guys and I can relate to them as a hitter. If you give me a scouting report and the pitcher is 50 percent this or 40 percent this, 10 percent this. That scouting report may work for a [Ronald] Torreyes or [Clint] Frazier or somebody, but it’s not going to work for me. They are not going to pitch Torreyes like they pitch to Matt Holliday. So having another guy like Stanton, we have a chance if he’s hitting in front of me or I’m hitting in front of him, we get to see how we are going to get pitched.

Larry Nance Jr. did a decent job switching onto Indy guards, though Oladipo drilled a couple of stone-cold jumpers in his face. If Nance can hang — and he is hit or miss on switches — the Cavs might as well just start him over Green. He is a better defender and rebounder, and the Cavs can use him as a screener to unlock LeBron’s spread pick-and-roll game:

But this is surrender masquerading as aggression. The Cavs have no faith in Love, no matter what strategy they use, so they’re loading up behind him. When Love hung back in semi-garbage time, Oladipo zoomed right around him:

Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said Monday the team will go to Laramie, Wyo., next week to get a closer look at Allen, whose Pro Day they attended last Friday.

The Jets have had private workouts already with UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield. Maccagnan said they have nothing scheduled with USC’s Sam Darnold, a possible sign they believe he will be taken No. 1 overall by the Browns.

“With Sam, we had actually gotten quite a bit of exposure on him, so we feel pretty good about him,” Maccagnan said.
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Todd Marinovich in trouble with the law, again

The sad story of former NFL quarterback Todd Marinovich has another sad chapter.

Via the Palm Springs Desert Sun, the 1991 first-round draft pick of the Raiders has been arrested yet again. He remains in jail, on undisclosed charges.

“I don’t understand it because as a defender, when you’re going in for a tackle, your first instinct — you got to lower yourself to get your pads even with the player’s pads,” Church said on 103.3 FM ESPN in Dallas, via the Dallas Morning News. “So you’re telling me if you’re a defender that needs to lower your pads to get more leverage on a player, and the running back goes low to protect himself, and you guys hit each other, hit him with the helmet or whatever — are they just going to throw a flag basically every single play?”

The greatest possibility for a foul comes when the offense is running the ball between the tackles.

As a result, everyone is currently in the dark — including the players who will be expected to comply with the new rule.

“I don’t know how it’s going to go down,” Dolphins guard Josh Sitton said in an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “It’s going to be one of those things, it’ll be a hot topic for a little while and then it’ll kind of die down after the preseason and the first few weeks. But, you know, it pretty much happens on every play so I don’t know how they’re going to really officiate it. I feel like people are going to be getting kicked out of the game left and right. I’ve been a guy that typically tries to lead with my head back and kind of come in with my chest and hands but, you know, it happens quite often. So it’ll be interesting. You know, I think the league has gotten to a place where it’s probably not going to be around in 20 years so, and this is kind of one of those rules that’s making it head that way.”

Sitton said a lot in that answer, much of which isn’t entirely consistent. It won’t be a big deal, it will be a big deal. It will die down, it won’t die down. It won’t dramatically change the game, it will dramatically change the game.buccaneers_046

Insider: Colts’ rebuild gets major boost with draft picks trade with Jets

The Indianapolis Colts just made perhaps the biggest splash move of this free-agent signing period without spending a dime.

Indianapolis on Saturday executed a blockbuster trade with the New York Jets that gives New York the Colts’ No. 3 overall selection and nets the Colts picks Nos. 6, 37 and 49 in 2018 as well as the Jets’ 2019 second-round choice.

The Colts now have four picks in the top 49 selections of this draft, positioning General Manager Chris Ballard to more quickly restock his roster with young talent. The Colts have resisted major moves in free agency, preferring to mine and develop young talent and moderately-priced veteran free agents.

But with teams ahead of the Colts, like the Jets, lining up for quarterbacks, the Colts might just get one of those stars anyway.

The Colts had been the subject of much speculation about a possible trade scenario in recent weeks. With the Buffalo Bills making a play last week to collect an additional first-round pick, they were believed to have an eye on the Colts’ No. 3 pick.

Defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson (one year, $5 million) to the Packers. He was a $10-million-a-year player two years ago, and he screwed it up, and now he’s got a season to save his career, on a one-year prove-it contract, with a chip the size of a boulder on his shoulder. I like his chances to reward Green Bay. Three Worst Decisions Arizona giving quarterback Sam Bradford one year and $20 million … with $15 million guaranteed.

This is the way I would have made this deal, if I were Arizona: $5 million in bonuses and base salary, $1 million bonus for every start. If Bradford’s healthy, he earns $21 million. If not, he doesn’t eat up valuable cap space. And if Bradford finds a better deal elsewhere, let him go. I really like Bradford as a player, when he plays. But that’s the rub. He’s 19-19 over the past five years, and has missed more starts (42) than he’s made (38). I like the player, but not the contract.
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Ravens CB Jimmy Smith suspended 4 games for PEDs

After suffering a season-ending Achilles injury Sunday, Jimmy Smith received more bad news Monday.

The Panthers return a punt for a touchdown, and the Jets have now COMPLETELY Jets’d this up. They allowed consecutive defensive and special teams touchdowns to go from winning this game to having no chance to cover. I can’t WAIT to go back to not caring about the Jets.

The Eagles defense, thinking they’d intercepted a Trubisky pass late in the game, perform the Electric Slide. But the call is overturned, so they intercept Trubisky again, and perform the Electric Slide again.

For a couple of blissful minutes, my kids play together peacefully without any involvement from their parents. Is this … Could this be a glimpse of what we hoped for when we had kids 19 months apart? Like, OF COURSE, they’ll fight over toys, but the mere NOTION of entire minutes where I don’t have to actively parent one or both of them makes my heart sing.

Despite being out front at the beginning of his run, the 24-year-old was chased down from behind, preventing an 86-yard touchdown.

Keenum isn’t an All-Pro quarterback by any means, but he’s playing well enough to keep Bridgewater, now healthy for the first time in over a year, on the bench.
Keenum has been more than a game manager for a Viking team that’s surprised throughout 2017. After a rocky start — losses in Weeks 2 and 4 — the sixth-year veteran has laid the foundation for the league’s ninth-ranked offense. In his last six games, all victories, he’s averaged 240 passing yards per game and a 68% completion rate.

His numbers got even better once Bridgewater returned from injured reserve to push him for playing time. In his last two games, hard-earned wins against Washington and the Rams, he’s thrown for 584 yards and five touchdowns while completing 71.6 percent of his passes.
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NFL scores: Week 9 results, highlights

Though the heavy usage provides optimism, Westbrook ran behind both Marqise Lee and Keelan Cole and figures to also be behind Hurns once he returns from an ankle injury. Westbrook, a fourth-round pick in the 2017 draft, has the talent to explode onto the fantasy scene, but he’s facing tough odds in a run-heavy offense. He should be rostered but on benches against Arizona this week.

However, the Giants (1-7) aren’t planning on making any changes to the coaching or front office staff until the season is over, ESPN.com reported Thursday.

News that McAdoo’s job is secure for now comes on the heels of admissions from anonymous Giants players who are fed up with McAdoo.

According to ESPN’s report, players complaining in the middle of the season is normal and the Giants ownership isn’t too worried about it.

However, the Giants’ egregious 51-17 loss to the Rams Sunday seemed to be the final straw for some players, who anonymously said that McAdoo has “lost the team.”

Despite the grumblings, McAdoo didn’t seem too concerned in Thursday’s press conference.

Luis Severino struggled to a 5.38 ERA in his first full season and had been booted out of the rotation in 2016, but finished third in the AL Cy Young voting. And who would have predicted Mike Trout not making the final three of the AL MVP voting?

Richard Sherman said his Achilles had been bothering him since Rams game.

Toss-up: The Chargers have won four of their past six games following an 0-4 start. Five of their losses have been by eight or fewer points. Most Chargers games are toss-ups, so it’s no surprise their season has been one too.flyers_0832495

Giants’ GM Jerry Reese: ‘I’m the reason we’re 1-6’

Enough pointing fingers at embattled left tackle Ereck Flowers or the New York Giants’ offensive line. General manager Jerry Reese says to point them directly at him after the team’s 1-6 start to the season.

Bowen: Josh Doctson, WR, Redskins. I’ll take a flier here on Doctson, who got the start over Terrelle Pryor Sr. on Monday night. Doctson caught three of five targets in that game, and it’s obvious that the Redskins want to increase his workload in the offense. With great body control at the point of attack and red zone ability, Doctson could surprise this Sunday against a Cowboys defense giving up an average of 36.6 points per game to opposing receivers (27th in the NFL).

“I asked them explicitly, ‘Can you atchargers_047 least tell me if I’m going to be here next year to play this position?'” Reid said. “They told me ‘no.’ … Right now, I just trust that the film I have at safety is good enough for me to enter free agency with. And just get some film at linebacker, as well.”

In their letter granting permission to seek a trade, the Bills noted that Boldin might not make visits, undergo a physical or try out with other teams at this time. The Bills reserved the right to have ultimate say on trade compensation and the designated club.

The trade deadline is Tuesday, so there is a finite window on any talks.

Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, where he played his first seven seasons, Boldin walked away from the game with 1,076 receptions for 13,779 yards and 82 touchdowns. He won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 season. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions.

Browns’ Myles Garrett leaves practice with ankle injury, reportedly might miss multiple games

Myles Garrett’s NFL debut may have to be put on hold.

The Browns’ rookie defensive end and No. 1 overall pick of this year’s draft suffered an ankle injury during Wednesday’s practice and was unable to finish the workout.

“He went as long as he could,” coach Hue Jackson said at his post-practice news conference, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Brady never appeared on the Patriots’ league-mandated injury report with a head injury, and the team said it had followed all NFL procedures properly in his case — though Brady has not specifically denied his wife’s claim.

The league said it reviewed film from every Patriots game last season, along with Brady’s medical records and reports from the independent concussion spotters who worked New England’s games.

“This review identified no evidence of any deviation from the Protocol by the Patriots’ medical staff or the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultants assigned to Patriots’ games or any indication that Mr. Brady sustained a concussion or reported signs or symptoms consistent with having sustained a concussion,” the league statement said. “We appreciate the cooperation of the Patriots’ medical staff in conducting this review.”
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Chiefs owner Clark Hunt sued over New Mexico investment deal

The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs is being accused in a lawsuit of improperly receiving hundreds of millions in state investment money through a kickback deal with New Mexico officials.

The Kansas City Star reports Sunday the New Mexico State Investment Council filed the lawsuit late last month against Clark Hunt and HFV Asset Management over the politically influenced investment deals.

Hunt didn’t comment to the newspaper on the lawsuit Sunday morning. Hunt’s father, Lamar, founded the Chiefs franchise and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

When the offense might plausibly be excited that Brock Osweiler is back in town, on the other hand, you have problems. More meaningful than Osweiler will be the offensive line upgrades the Broncos made over the offseason, using their first-round pick on Garett Bolles and signing Ronald Leary (Cowboys) and Menelik Watson (Raiders). Returning offensive coordinator Mike McCoy has a deeper offensive line than Gary Kubiak enjoyed last season, which should reduce the number of times the Broncos have to roll out a lineman with no hope against Khalil Mack or Joey Bosa. The line improvements should push Denver’s 28th-ranked offense toward the middle of the pack.

Even just talking about the trip gets his mouth watering. He misses his family, including his two older brothers, and he only sees them rarely.

“My parents came for senior day in Texas, games at Sam Houston State and Central Arkansas,” he said. “There were, combined, maybe 10,000 people. Now they’re going to be in one of the biggest cities in the world, watching their son play football.”raptors_001

Jordan Matthews suffers chip fracture in first practice with Bills

Newly acquired wide receiver Jordan Matthews is considered “week-to-week” after suffering a chest injury in his first practice with the Bills.

Multiple reports say Matthews suffered a chip fracture in his sternum on Sunday.

The Bills traded for Matthews last week after jettisoning Sammy Watkins to the Rams. Ironically, Buffalo travels to Philadelphia on Thursday for a preseason game.

There are no immediate details on how Matthews sustained the injury.

The Bills sent cornerback Ronald Darby to the Eagles for Matthews and a 2018 third-round pick.

Who put the Packers, Ravens and Steelers on the Browns’ December schedule? That’s brutal, and normally around this time of year, Cleveland is out of the hunt. The Browns are 21-63 since 1999 in December, a winning percentage of .250. That includes one December win in each of the last four seasons.

We’re willing to take a glass-half-full approach with the Browns. Cleveland won either four or five games over six straight seasons from 2008-13. That stretch in late October to early November against the Titans, Vikings, Lions and Jaguars will be a chance to increase that win total and show progress in Jackson’s second season.

Book-ending the schedule on both sides with the Steelers wasn’t exactly a nice touch. Of course, we’re taking a disclaimer considering we’re still not 100 percent sure who Cleveland’s quarterback will be in 2017.

There wasn’t a hunka hunka burning love for Grbac in Baltimore after the 2000 Super Bowl champions splurged to sign the Chiefs Pro Bowler at a then-rich five years for $30 million. He went an OK 8-6, but that was more because of their defense. He only gave the offense 3,033 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was released right after the season and retired soon afterward at age 31.dolphins_081

We asked you what 2017 NFL game you would attend. Here’s what you said.

Football season is almost here! I mean, we still have to ease into it with the preseason and a few players are still holding out to get paid, but the regular season will be here before we know it.

“I think so, but again I haven’t seen him,” head coach Mike Zimmer told the Pioneer Press when asked whether Bridgewater would be placed on the PUP to start camp. That came true Wednesday with the team announcing the quarterback is the latest addition to the team’s PUP list.

Bridgewater’s recovery from a torn ACL and dislocated knee has provided several moments of optimism, but he’s not ready to take the field just yet. Minnesota can still rely on Sam Bradford, who put together one of his finest seasons as a pro last fall after being traded north from Philadelphia. Bradford is signed through the end of 2017, and Bridgewater’s rehab will play a significant role as to whether or not he reaches a contract extension with the team before the season begins.

On Monday, the club placed a pair of players on the PUP list, but not their young QB.

While Luck is in line to return by September, the jury is still out on Bridgewater’s return. Bridgewater’s ability to throw without a brace is a step in the right direction, but he’ll have to prove he can regain the mobility that allowed him to buy time in the pocket and find open windows downfield. The Vikings have kept flexible in the face of his unfortunate injury, declining the fifth-year option of his rookie contract while keeping Bradford in the fold. However, with the season just six weeks away, Minnesota will have to make some tough decisions soon.patriots_322-180x180